Arizona weekly enterprise., 1887-11-19


 sprang up in great terror, and cried | out:
 .'Oh, sir, they are the Indians who have been on my traill Don't let them take me away! Let me hide in the wagonr'
 'sIn with you quick, and they will have to kill me before they lay hands on you" I replied, and she disappeared be- meath the cover with astonishing celerity.
 The gallop came nearer and nearer, and presently voice hailed me:
 ''The camp thar-heilsi'
 "Who is it:''
 "Friends." "
 "Come in.'
 With that half breed and a Kickapoo came riding into camp on horses which had neither saddle nor blanket. Both men looked savage and sullen, and were well armed. The half breed could speak very good English, and when he haG come to a halt and looked around, he said:
 ''We are after the woman who came into your camp few hours ago. I see her horse over there.
 "By what authority do you demand her?''
 "None of your business. We have come for her, and we mean to have her. "
 Do you mean that you will take her by force?'
 q do; and let me give you piece of advice. 1 see you are tenderfoot. Don't put on too many airs in this coun- try It's great place to have one's wings cropped in a hurry. Don't at tempt any foolishness with us, or you'll never know what hurt You. had my Winchester in hand and two revolvers in my belt. Had been hot tempered man, there would have been some shooting before Ike had concluded his bombastic speech. 1 am slow to anger, especially when human life may pay the forfeit, and heard him through without being rolled The woman was hidden away in the wagon. and had not | revealed her presence to them by word ] or move.
 If the woman chooses to go with you, well and good, answered, as 1 looked tho fellow over by the light of the camp | fire. If she does not you cannot take her."
 "Oh we can't, eh? You crow pretty loud for & spring chicken. Well, ask the 1 wench to make choice.
 The wagon was about ten paces from | the fire, and in the shadow, although not so much so that could not see it pretty l plainly. I had made step toward it when I saw black object under the wheels, and, supposing it to be wolf, I raised my gun and took a snap shot, caring only to send bullet near enough .4 ,l with the echoes of the report, and as | walked along 10 the wagon the two men, who had not dismounted, accompanied mo. Standing within five feet of the vehicle called to the woman and asked if she desired to go with the men, and she replied:
 you have to shoot me.
 'But you've got to comet" shouted the halfbreed.
 '.She shall not gor' I shouted at him.
 I give you two villains sixty seconds in which to leave camp. Now go!''
 They were close together, and my rife covered both. They looked straight at me for fifteen or twenty seconds, and then turned and rode away in tho dark ness. 1 followed them for 109 yards, when they urged their horses to a galop, and rode to the north without looking back. I stood and looked after them until could no longer hear the beat of their horses hoofs, and 1 felt rather proud of my nerve in driving them away. It did not occur to me until next day that either or both of them could nave got the drop on me up tc the time raised my rifle, and that while they were making threats of what they would do they left their rifles lying across their saddles. They simply permitted me tc
 force them out of camp at the muzZle of my Winchester, and that was part of their plan. When returned to the fire
 the woman was beside it, her face betray-
 ing fear and distress, and as soon as
 came up she clasped her hands and tear
 fully exclaimed:
 '>Oh, you will not let them take mt
 away you will not!''
 assured her that they had been driver
 off, and that she was safe, and her grati
 Judo was unbounded. It was now 1(
 o'clock and after, and Patton had not ye
 returned. It was useless to expect hin
 until morning, and set about preparing
 the camp for the night. As there was strong probability that the two mel driven of would secure reinforcement
 and return during the night, tied tn
 horse to the wagon, told the woman tha
 she could occupy the vehicle, and pre- pared to spend the night on guard. Sh
 seemed to oppose this latter arrangement doubting if the men would return, an, declaring it was sacrifice on my par she could not accept. I bundled her int the wagon, however, promising that might catch a nap at or ? o'clock
 all was quiet, and by and by let the fir go down and took my circle around tn camp with cat like step. A few coyote and wolves came about, but nothin seemed to disturb me, and the hour passed away until o'clock. By tha , time I was very tired and sleepy. dared not stretch out for regular sleeI knowing that tho danger was not ye 3 passed, but sat down on knoll abou forty feet north of the wagon to nap ] little, knowing that any noise of accour would instantly arouse me. It was pel haps quarter of an hour before l at , tually fell asleep, and almost instantly began to dream. dreamed that I WE tied fast to tree on the plains, and ths a rattlesnake was crawling toward m, - The snake was coming to bite me, and was helpless. Every movement of il 1 roDa ,Io xr-os, ,o xixyiI aS if tba draor1 Io